economics

HOW to and Paper Rubric

Application Papers

HOW-TO
Read Thoroughly BEFORE You Start Writing!

GENERAL INFO

HOW LONG?

2 typed (11-12 pt. font, double-spaced/black ink on white 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper) pages plus your graph page. A copy of your article or a link should be included.

WHEN DUE?

Due Monday, November 16. Please drop your paper in the designated drop box on Bb. Please check your paper before submission. Make sure all parts are in including your article (or the URL) and the graph page.

WHAT ABOUT?

You can pick any of the topics or core concepts discussed in the text’s units Except for the Unemployment part.

GRADING?

Economic content, appropriate application of the principle, and a properly constructed graph all count. Grammar, spelling, and punctuation count too!

Do you have the economic principle straight? Is your explanation of it complete, clear and logical? Don’t repeat a sentence and be precise. (25 points)
Does the article illustrate the topic principle as you suggest? Is the connection between the situation/article and the principle clearly explained? Don’t forget to send along a copy of your article with your papers. Without it, page 2 and your graph cannot be scored. (25 points)
Have you provided a properly constructed and labeled graph as appropriate? (10 points)
Grammar/spelling/punctuation. Every 2 errors of this sort will cost you 1 point. You can gut your score quickly by failing to proofread your paper. For help, contact the WRITING CENTER — 245 Franklin. Penned-in corrections are counted as proofreading misses.

Suggestion: proofread, pencil in the corrections needed, make them and re-print your paper.

% OF GRADE?

The 60 possible points from your paper make up about 6% of your course grade.

GRAPhs

Article

Graphs that represent the economic models studied in class. Pie and bar graphs and other statistical graphs are not counted.

Any article that pertains to the topic you selected. Your article must be a recent one. No articles before August 1 are accepted.

TURN IN?

Please drop your paper in the designated drop box on Bb.

Have doubts about your article or topic? Please do not hesitate to e-mail me. Send your article to me to approve, or send your paper to me to review before submission.

FEEDBACK?

Expect my comments with your paper score, and an explanation of any deductions within a week- 10 days of your submission date.

GENERAL REMINDERS

Reports must be TYPED (11-12 pt type) DOUBLE-SPACED and cannot exceed 2 pages in length, not including graphs. Use the FORMAT PROVIDED. Do include section headings.
Attach a copy of the article/ link to your paper. Your article must be something published this semester. Use any publication you like. Business publications are fine, but so are Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, your neighborhood Booster, or any other. You can find economic issues in all kinds of magazines and newspapers. Make sure the article is was published after August 1.
Your task here is to apply economic concepts, not to summarize articles.
Identify the relevant economic concept at the top of your paper. Stick to topics covered in the assigned chapters.
In the 1st section of your paper, thoroughly Explain the concept in your own words. Do not quote the book and don’t refer to your article yet. This should fill up your 1st page.
In the 2nd section of your paper, explain how the article illustrates this concept. Your task is to demonstrate a working knowledge of economics, not to simply summarize an article. Play the role of the econ professor who’s constructing an example to illustrate a concept in class. This is the 2nd page of your paper.
Include a graph on page 3 to illustrate what’s going on. Label your graph appropriately.
One point per day late will be deducted if you submit your paper after the due date. No papers will be accepted after Monday, November 30.
“Work-in-progress” will not be graded. Your paper is not ready to submit until it is PROPERLY FORMATTED, TYPED/DOUBLE-SPACED (black ink on white 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper) with 1″ MARGINS on all 4 sides, your article or the URL attached.

Caution: The graphs required are ones that illustrate the economic theories and the concepts we learned in class, Bar & Pie graphs and other graphs representing statistical data are not counted.